Thailand’s Ministry of Social Development and Human Security (MSDHS) organised the ASEAN+3 Conference on Social Enterprises, engaging regional leaders to promote sustainable development.

Thailand’s Ministry of Social Development and Human Security (MSDHS) organised the ASEAN 3 Conference on Social Enterprises, engaging regional leaders to promote sustainable development (Photo: thainews.prd.go.th)

Presiding over the opening ceremony of the event, Deputy Prime Minister Chatchai Sarikulya said that the global community is now aware of social issues due to changes in complex economic structures, population structures with lower birth rates, more elderly persons, reduced working population, and climate changes, all of which create significant effects to the security of humanity, poverty, and social inequality.

He said the ASEAN countries have agreed to take social measures to prevent consequences of such changes, which call for cooperation from civil society and private sector.

Thailand currently has a major policy to reduce social inequality by promoting access to government services, and promoting better wealth distributions, such as the internationally acclaimed Doi Tung development project run by Mae Fah Luang Foundation which has helped villagers stop growing narcotic plants, ending poverty, and improving their quality of life while conserving the environment.

The ASEAN+3 Conference on Social Enterprises is being held until March 8 at Swissotel Bangkok Ratchada hotel, providing a platform for knowledge and idea exchanges between government agencies and private firms in the ASEAN region on social enterprises.

Thailand has given top priority on social enterprises to proceed in a unified direction in compliance with the societies of respective member states.

(Source: VNA)